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Thursday, 16 June 2011

Revered author Markus Zusak once pondered on the question, "Would you still write your book even if you knew it had no chance of publication?"

A similar query was raised at my Writers' Group today; "Are we still honestly hoping to be published authors one day or do we just write for the love of it?"

My emphatic reply was akin to Markus', "Yes. Definitely. World wide domination for me, thank you very much."

Markus emphasised that writing should be a fun experience, playing with words and enjoyable even if those words are full of darkness and horror. He stressed (that for him) being a writer had nothing to do with being published. Telling his story was far more essential and I suppose satisfying.

For those who are still fairly 'green' but inching ever skyward ready to burst through that low lying cloud of rejections any day now, for those 'developing', for those 'established' but keen to survive the next season, the purpose of why we write is not always clear.

For me it's a complex recipe of reasons. I find it cathartic. I write to share, inform, entertain. And there is of course that small part of me screaming out for acknowledgement; a need to be recognised and remembered for creating something memorable.

OK, maybe I'm not seeking world domination. Publication would be the blossoms on my tree. But like Markus (and I'm not comparing myself to His Holiness in any way), I'd still write because I honestly just like messing around with words.

Would I still write, knowing that I'd never be published? Yes I would. What about you?

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Hi there! I'm a Creator of Children's Stories and Picture Books. Qualifications for this include Professional Children's Writing Courses, Motherhood, Director of Marketing in the Leisure, Boating and Hospitality Industries and travelling around the world a couple of times or maybe more. I'm fond of the real world but especially love imaginary ones. To Read, Write and Inspire rank as high for me as wining and dining.